Direct contact condenser



Nov. 16, 1965 A. F. MIERS DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSER Original Filed Feb. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFRED F M/ERS AGENT 3,218,046 DTRECT CQNTACT C(PNDENSER Alfred F. Miers, Phiiiipsburg, Nnlfi, assignor to Ingersoll- Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of application Ser. No. 173,236, Feb. 14, 1962. This application Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,719 14 Claims. ((11. 261-63) The present application is a continuation of my pending application, Serial No. 173,236, filed February 14, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to direct contact condensers and more particularly to a steam bypass within such a condenser.

It is known that in direct contact condensers, heretofore, due to the placement of battle walls along the ascent path of injected vaporized fluid or steam and water curtains resulting from the placement of the baflie walls, a large pressure differential existed between the injection point and the take off point within the condenser housing. This pressure differential resulted from turbulence and backing up of injected steam, within the direct contact condenser, which was created by both condensibles and non-condensibles passed through formed water curtains and the failure of properly directing backed up steam. As a result of the turbulence, high pressure differential and backed up condensibles and non-condensibles, a direct contact condenser did not operate efficiently and fully; that is, a portion of the injected steam would not be condensed adequately. Also, due to the turbulence near the top of the condenser where the ejectors are normally connected, water would be splashed into the ejectors thereby causing breakdowns. The frequent breakdowns of the direct contact condensers caused many lost man hours in time and a great lack of efliciency.

In barometric condenser devices of the type shown in US. Patents 1,028,156 and 1,028,157 issued June 4, 1912 to C. L. W. T rinks, a vertically disposed cylindrical condenser is provided in which steam is coursed up through the center of a plurality of baflie plates. The steam flowing therethrough is condensed by the water curtains created by the central holes in the baflle walls. Due to the restricted path of flow of the steam in its ascent through the consenser, an appreciable amount of turbulence will occur particularly where the steam injection conduit is located. This is due primarily to the water curtain coming in contact with the injection steam at a limited number of points and the limited paths of ascent of the uncondenscd steam. The turbulence created will result in a large pressure differential between the steam inlet and the exhaust portion of the condenser, which has been found to be quite undesirable since it leads to frequent malfunctions in the condenser itself and a build up of pressure in the portion where the turbulance is most apt to occur. Further it may be seen that there is a back-up of pressure from the turbulence point and although a bypass is provided in the Trinks Patent 1,028,- 156, this bypass, as provided, will not allow the pressure or steam back-up to be relieved to a suflicient degree.

It is the general object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision within a condenser of apertured baflled walls along the ascent of the steam as well as the proper placement of a steam bypass means.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the turbulence within the condenser.

atent Another object of the present invention is to reduce the high pressure differential between the vaporized fluid or steam injection and the exhaust point of the condenser.

Yet another object of the present invention is to increase the overall efficiency of the condenser while allowing for a reduced overall size.

Still another object of the present invention is to decrease the possibility of splashing fluid or water into the ejection pipe.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a plurality of splash and/or baffle plate means and a plurality of annular reverter flanges within the condenser housing. The plate means and annular reverter flange means are placed on different planes thereby causing a series of fluid coolant curtains, which, when in contact with injected vaporized fluid, will condense the vaporized fluid. A pressure relief means is provided, as well as a bypass means to relieve any pressure or vaporized fluid build-up. The uncondensed vaporized fluid and inherently non-condensible vapor are withdrawn from the condenser housing by the provision of an ejection means while the condensed vaporized fluid is removed by a fluid receiving trough means.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a condenser made in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicable to barometric and direct contact condensers and the like, the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with direct contact condensers and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particularly to FIG. 1 a condenser housing is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. In order to introduce fluid, such as water, into the condenser housing 10 an aperture 12 is provided in the upper portion thereof to accommodate a fluid inlet conduit or water inlet pipe 14. At the lower end of the condenser housing 10, an aperture 16 is provided for securement of a vaporized fluid inlet pipe or steam inlet conduit 13, which introduces vaporized fluid or steam for condensate removal. A fluid or water receiving trough, generally indicated by reference numeral 20, is provided at the lower end of the condenser housing 10 to receive fluid descending from the upper portion of the condenser housing It) and to carry it off. The manner in which the fluid is removed from the lower end of the condenser housing Iii (i.e. by a discharge pipe, not shown) is familiar to those skilled in the art, and per se forms no part of this invention.

One convenient method of conveying fluid, such as wa ter to the central portion of the condenser housing 10, is provided by the use of a fluid distribution conduit means, such as a distribution conduit 22, which distribution conduit 22 communicates with the water inlet pipe 14. As shown, conduit 22 extends axially, within housing 10, downwardly from pipe 14 and is open at its lower end.

Disposed beneath the distribution conduit 22 and axially spaced therefrom is a generally circular splash plate 24 which deflects the fluid descending from the distribution conduit 22 outwardly toward the inner periphery of the condenser housing it). in this manner an annular fluid coolant curtain A is formed around and beneath the baflle plate 24-, the outer periphery of which is spaced from the inner periphery of housing It To redirect the descending fluid coolant curtain A inwardly from the inner periphery of the condenser housing lit and to form another annular fluid coolant curtain B, a first annular reverter flange 26 is attached to the inner periphery of the condenser housing it) and is disposed below the splash plate 24-. The redirected fluid flow from the first annular reverter flange 2-6, which forms fluid coolant curtain B, thereafter descends upon a first bafile means or plate 28, disposed beneath splash plate 24. Batfle plate 23 is axially spaced from splash plate 24, below flange 2.6, and is approximately of the same diameter. Plate 225 is provided with a first restrictive aperture at its center for controlling the flow of vaporized fluid therethrough as will be further discussed. One or more raised portions or projections 32, as required, extend upwardly from the outer periphery of battle plate 25, the purposes of which will be further discussed.

To prevent the cascading fluid coolant curtain B from entering the first restrictive aperture 3G, a first tubular shielding melt er 34, which surrounds the aperture 343, is connected to the baflle plate 28 and extends upwardly therefrom. Thus, the fluid redirected by flange 26 impinges on plate 23 and member 34, and again is redirected outwardly toward the inner periphery of housing iii to provide a third annular fluid curtain C. As Will be understood, the projection or projections 32. extend through the fluid curtain C each forming a breach or a gap therein.

A second annular reverted flange 36 is connected to the inner periphery of housing ltl and is axially spaced from flange 26, below balfle plate 23. The curtain of fluid C descending from the baflle plate 28 impinges upon and is redirected by the second annular reverter flange 3d inwardly from the inner periphery of housing it) to form another annular curtain D which descends upon a second baflle means or plate 38.

Plate 38 is axially spaced from plate 2.8, below flange 36, and has a restrictive opening 40, substantially alined with opening 39, to control flow of vaporized fluid there through. A tubular member 49 is connected to plate 33 and extends upwardly therefrom to prevent fluid of curtain D from falling through opening 43. Thus, curtain D impinges upon and is redirected again by plate 35 and member ll? outwardly toward the inner periphery of housing it) to form still another annular fluid curtain E. One or more raised portions or projections 44-, as required, extend upwardly from the outer periphery of plate 38 which is spaced from the inner periphery of housing it); each such projection extending through and forming a breach or gap in curtain E.

A third annular flange 46, connected to the inner periphery of housing 10, is axially spaced from flange 36 and below plate 33 for redirecting fluid curtain E inwardly from the inner periphery of housing id to form another annular fluid coolant curtain F which is collected in trough from whence it is carried oil as hereinbefore discussed. One or more raised portions or projections 33, as required, extend upwardly from the inner periphery of flange 46, each extending through and forming a breach or gap in curtain F.

It now should be readily seen that a plurality of axially alined plates 24, and 38, each having an outer periphery spaced from the inner periphery of housing 10, are disposed in axially spaced alternate series with a plurality of axially spaced flanges 26, 36, and 46 to define a flow path for fluid from inlet 22 which forms sequential annular curtains A F. Such curtains A Fform an annular convoluted wall disposed axially in housing 4 and with plates 24, and 33 deflne central chambers 36, El, and 82 sequentially connected by restricted apertures 4% and respectively, Both, first and second restrictive apertures 32 and in first and second balfle plates 28 and are precisely dimensioned so that only a predetermined amount of vaporized fluid may pass through these apertures 3 and dtl thus forming a pressure relief means, which will allow a predetermined amount of vaporized fluid, such as steam, to pass therethrough. This portion of the vaporized fluid is usually that portion which cannot be deflected around the plates and The annular fluid curtain F separates chamber 89 from an inlet or inlet accumulator chamber 33, in communication with conduit 18, which must be pierced or traversed by inlet vaporized fluid or steam. The annular fluid curtain A similarly separates chamber from a vaporized fluid or steam discharge chamber 34 at the top of housing l Fluid curtains D and E with housing ll define an annu lar chamber or trap 85 between flanges 36 and Thus, back pressure in chamber St) is relieved not only through the restrictive aperture ll but also through the breach or breaches in curtain E to chamber or trap as. Similarly, fluid curtains B and C with housing lit define an annular chamber or trap 87 between flanges 26 and 36. Thus, back. pressure in chamber 81 is relieved not only through the restrictive orifice 3th but also through the breach or breaches in curtain C to chamber or trap 87.

For the purpose of further relieving any back-up steam pressure resulting from turbulence within the condenser housing ill a steam bypass means 549 is also provided, Structurally, bypass means 59 is provided by a conduit communicating at one end with discharge chamber c and being bifurcated at its other end to provide a pair of subsidiary conduits 60 and 64 in communication at their respective ends 54 and 56 with chambers 86 and $7, respectively, points where turbulence, and therefore back pressure, is prevalent. Thus, at these points other paths of flow for vaporized fluid or steam is provided. The turbulence caused by the mixing of steam and fluid coolant curtains D and E is relieved by an escape path provided by the opening 54. The flow of vaporized fluid escaping through this opening is controlled by a valve 58 in conduit Similarly, opening 55 provides a relief path from turbulence and back-up pressure created by the interaction of ascending vaporized fluid through the fluid coolant curtains B and C. The flow of vaporized fluid escaping through opening 56 is controlled by a valve 62 in conduit 64.

in order to further condense the vaporized fluid brought through the bypass means 5t another annular fluid coolant curtain G is provided. A tap-off conduit 63 diverts amount of the fluid flowing through the distribution conduit 22 to a point above the opening 65. A splash plate is spaced axially below tap-oil conduit 68 above the open end 66 of conduit 52. Thus, water from conduit 63 contacting splash plate Til, thereby results in creation of fluid coolant curtain G through which the vaporized fluid introduced through opening 66 must pass and be condensed.

It would be most undesirable if fluid were allowed to enter the bypass means 50. To this end the openings 56 and 5d are protected from fluid flowing in from overhead by the flrst and second annular reverter flanges 25 and 36, and from the flow of fluid laterally from the battle plate 2% by their respective raised portions 32 and 44. It is necessary therefore that one of each of the raised portions 32 and 44 be positioned directly opposite or radially alined the openings 55 and 54-, respectively.

In order to remove any vaporized fluid that has not been condensed, or vapor that is inherently non-condensible, an ejector means 72 (shown in the upper right hand portion of FIG. 1) is provided communicating with chamber 34- in the upper portion of the condenser housing 10. To this end condenser housing 10, is provided with a aperture 74, and a take oif conduit 76 is connected thereto. The placement of the ejector means 72 and the means for withdrawing the uncondensed vaporized fluid and non-condensibles is well known in the art and consequently per se forms no part of this invention. I

Although only one bypass means 59 is shown (FIG. 1) it will be understood by those skilled in the art that more than one bypass means may be provided.

The plates 24, 2S and 38 may be supported by spiderlike arms 7 8, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which support the plates and are secured to the inner periphery of the condenser housing 10.

Although it is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description, a brief review of such operation will now be made for purposes of summary and simplification.

Operation With the preferred construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, vaporized fluid or steam enters chamber 83 of the condenser housing 16 at inlet steam conduit 16, and flows upwardly (in the direction of the arrows, FIG. 1) through the fluid coolant curtain F to chamber 80. The majority of condensation occurs at this point since a great volume of incoming vaporized fluid is encountered by the large fluid coolant curtain F. The remaining uncondensed vaporized fluid continues to rise and impinges upon the baflle plate 38, which has second restrictive aperture 40 through which some of vaporized fluid passes directly to chamber 81 while the remainder is directed around the third baflle plate 38. The directed vaporized fluid that has not gone through the second restrictive aperture 4t) now passes through the water curtain E, to chamber 36, a portion of which is diverted into the opening 54 for the steam bypass means 5% and the remaining portion passing through the fluid coolant curtain D to chamber 81. The uncondensed vaporized fluid in chamber 81 now encounters the smaller first restrictive aperture 39 of baflle plate 28. A portion of this vaporized fluid passes through the first restrictive aperture 39 of bafile plate 23 directly to chamber 82, and the remaining portion is diverted around the baffle plate 28. This diverted portion thereafter passes through the fluid coolant curtain C to chamber 87. The vaporized fluid that passes through the fluid coolant curtain C and remains uncondensed now encounters another opening 56 of the steam bypass mems 59. Some of the vaporized fluid passes through the opening 56 while the remainder of the vaporized fluid proceeds through to the fluid coolant curtain B to chamber 32. The remaining uncondensed vaporized fluid thereafter encounters fluid coolant curtain A.

The vaporized fluid, in its ascent, in chamber 82 strikes the splash plate 24 which deflects the impinging vapor and which must now pass through the fluid coolant curtain A, while the uncondensed vaporized fluid which has been bypassed through the bypass means 50 then encounters and passes through the fluid coolant curtain G. The remaining vaporized fluid and uncondensibles in chamber 84 which have not been condensed while passing through the various fluid coolant curtains and finally curtains A and G, as hereinbefore described, are sucked through the ejection means 72 while the vaporized fluid that has been condensed and is in a liquid state falls to the bottom of the condenser housing 10, following the path of the fluid coolant curtains.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing pressure relief means and bypass means to relieve excessive pressure in the lower portion of the condenser housing thereby eliminating any pressure differential. Also this pressure relief means reduces the amount of turbulence within the condenser housing 10.

Additionally this invention is a more eiflcient means of condensing the ascending vaporized fluid and also allows 6 a high capacity of vaporized fluid to be condensed while allowing for a reduced overall size.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a direct contact condenser having a vertically disposed housing with an inlet to receive vaporized fluid and an outlet for coolant fluid at its bottom portion, an outlet for uncondensed vapor fluid at its top portion, and an inlet 0 for providing coolant fluid remote from its top portion:

(a) a series of plates fixedly disposed in spaced axial alinement in the housing and axially spaced from the top and bottom ends thereof, each having an outer periphery spaced from the inner periphery of the housing;

(b) a series of axially spaced annular flanges connected to the inner periphery of the housing each being disposed below and spaced from one of the plates;

(c) the uppermost plate being alined with and spaced below the coolant fluid inlet to form a splash plate, and the other of the plates each forming a baflle plate between each pair of flanges disposed in series with one another;

(d) the plates and flanges cooperating to create an annular wall of cascading coolant fluid between the coolant fluid inlet and outlet for condensing vaporized fluid when contacted thereby;

(e) passage means operatively associated with the housing for relieving excess pressure caused by contact between the coolant and vaporized fluids, and extending from within the housing and outside of the cascading fluid wall between each pair of flanges to within the end of the housing above the fluid wall; and

(f) the baffle plates having passage means therethrough for relieving excess pressure caused by contact between the coolant and vaporized fluids from within the cascading fluid wall below each of the bafile plates to the area within the cascading fluid wall above such baflle plates.

2. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with claim 1, each of the baffle plates having:

(a) at least one peripheral projection extending upwardly therefrom; and

(b) each projection extending through the cascading fluid wall to create a breach therein to provide a relief passage for excess pressure within the cascad ing fluid wall below the baflle plate from which the projection extends.

3. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with claim 2, the relief means operatively associated with the housing comprising:

(a) conduit means communicating at one end with the areas outside the fluid wall and within the housing between each pair of flanges in series with one another, and the area above the splash plate at its other end.

4. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with claim 3, the conduit means including:

(a) means for controlling the flow therethrough from each area between a pair of flanges to the area above the splash plate.

5. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with claim 3, the coolant fluid inlet having:

(a) a tap-ofl above the conduit means to provide a secondary flow of coolant fluid; and

(b) a splash plate spaced between the tap-ofl and the conduit means to create a cascading annular curtain of coolant fluid for condensing vapor fluid discharged from the conduit means when contacted thereby.

t, t 6. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with 9. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with claim 8, each of the baflle plates having:

claim 2, the relief means associated with the baffle plates (a) at lea t one peripheral projection extending upcomprising:

(a) a centrally disposed restrictive aperture through wardly therefrom; and

each of the battle plates; and (h) each projection extending through the fluid curtain directed by the baffle plate from which it extends to create a breach therein to provide a relief passage for excess pressure within the wall below such baflle (b) a plurality of tubular members each connected to one of the baflle plates, extending upwardly therefrom, providing an annular flange spaced fromrthe adjacent plate thereabove, and encircling the aperture plate. thereof to block cascading fluid from falling through In the direct contact condenser in accordance with the aperture encircled thereby. claim 9, the relief means operatively associated with the 7. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with housing comprising:

claim 6, (a) conduit means communicating at one end with the the restrictive aperture of each of the baffle plates bearea outside the fluid wall and within the housing ing smaller than the restrictive aperture of the baffle 1.5 between each pair of flanges in series with one anplate spaced therebelow. other, and the area above the splash plate at its other 8. In a direct contact condenser having a vertically end.

disposed housing with an inlet to receive vaporized fluid 11. In the direct contact condenser in accordance with and an outlet for coolant fluid at its bottom portion, an claim ii, the conduit means including:

outlet for uncondensed vapor fluid at its top portion, (a) means for controlling the flow therethrough from and an inlet for providing coolant fluid remote from its each area between a pair of flanges to the area above top portion: the splash plate.

(a) a series of plates fixedly disposed in spaced axial 12. in the direct contact condenser in accordance with alinenrent in the housing and axially spaced from claim the coolant fluidinlet having: the top and bottom ends thereof, each having an outer (a) a tap-off above the conduit means to provide a periphery spaced from the inner periphery of the secondary flow of coolant fluid; and housing; (b) a splash plate spaced between the tap-elf and the (b) a series of axially spaced annular flanges connected conduit means to create a cascading annular curtain to the inner periphery of the housing each being disof coolant fluid for condensing vapor fl id discharged posed below one or" the plates; from the conduit means when contacted thereby.

(c) the uppermost plate being spaced axially below the 13. in the direct contact condenser in accordance with fluid coolant inlet to form a splash plate directing claim 9, the relief means associated with the baflle plates flow of coolant fluid outwardly toward the inner pecomprising: riphery of the housing as an annular curtain of fluid (a) a centrally disposed restrictive aperture through which is redirected inwardly by the flange there- 3 each of the baflle plates;and below as an annular retroverted fluid curtain, and (b) a plurality of tubular members each connected to the remaining plates each redirecting the retroverted fluid curtain from the flange thereabove outwardly toward the inner periphery of the housing which is one of the baffle plates, extending upwardly therefrom, providing an annular flange spaced from the adjacent plate thereabove, and encircling the aperredirected inwardly by the following flange therebeture thereof to block cascading fluid from falling low to create an annular Wall of coolant fluid with through the aperture encircled thereby.

horizontal convolutions between the coolant fluid inin the direct contact condenser in accordance with let and outlet; claim 1 3,

(d) the plates and flanges cooperating to create an 911- the restrictive aperture of each of the baflle plates being smaller than the restrictive aperture of the ban e plate spaced there'oelow.

nular Wall of cascading coolant fluid between the coolant fluid inlet and outlet for condensing vaporized fluid when contacted thereby;

(e) passage means operatively associated with the housing for relieving excess pressure caused by contact between the coolant and vaporized fluids, and extending from within the housing and outside of the A13 1 I S :1 an a 1 cascading fluid Wall between each pair of flanges to 1 6 15 fag a a A, i r i i lfgzihln the end of the housin above the nuid Wall, 1,028157 6/1926 Tnnks 261 113 (f) the baflle plates having passage means therethrough for relieving excess pressure caused by contact between the coolant and vaporized fluids from within the cascading fluid wall below each of the baflle plates to the area within the cascading fluid wall above such baflle plates.

FOREIGN PATENTS 206,804 4/1924 Great Britain.

HARRY B. Tl-lORZsTO-N, Primary Examinen 

1. IN A DIRECT CONTACT CONDENSER HAVING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED HOUSING WITH AN INLET TO RECEIVE VAPORIZED FLUID AND AN OUTLET FOR COOLANT FLUID AT ITS BOTTOM PORTION, AN OUTLET FOR UNCONDENSED VAPOR FLUID AT ITS TOP PORTION, AND AN INLET FOR PROVIDING COOLANT FLUID REMOTE FROM ITS TOP PORTION: (A) A SERIES OF PLATES FIXEDLY DISPOSED IN SPACED AXIAL ALINEMENT IN THE HOUSING AND AXIALLY SPACED FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM ENDS THEROF, EACH HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERY SPACED FROM THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE HOUSING; (B) A SERIES OF AXIALLY SPACED ANNULAR FLANGES CONNECTED TO THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE HOUSING EACH BEING DISPOSED BELOW AND SPACED FROM ONE OF THE PLATES; (C) THE UPPERMOST PLATE BEING ALINED WITH AND SPACED BELOW THE COOLANT FLUID INLET TO FORM A SPLASH PLATE, AND THE OTHER OF THE PLATES ECH FORMING A BAFFLE PLATE BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF FLANGES DISPOSED IN SERIES WITH ONE ANOTHER; (D) THE PLATES AND FLANGES COOPERATING TO CREATE AN ANNULAR WALL OF CASCADING COOLANT FLUID BETWEEN THE COOLANT FLUID INLET AND OUTLET FOR CONDENSING VAPORIZED FLUID WHEN CONTACTED THEREBY; (E) PASSAGE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSING FOR RELIEVING EXCESS PRESSURE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND VAPORIZED FLUIDS, AND EXTENDING FROM WITHIN THE HOUSING AND OUTSIDE OF THE CASCADING FLUID WALL BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF FLANGES TO WITHIN THE END OF THE HOUSING ABOVE THE FLUID WALL; AND (F) THE BAFFLE PLATES HAVING PASSAGE MENS THERETHROUGH FOR RELIEVING EXCESS PRESSURE CAUSED BY CONTACT BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND VAPORIZED FLUIDS FROM WITHIN THE CASCADING FLUID WALL BELOW EACH OF THE BAFFLE PLATES TO THE AREA WITHIN THE CASCADING FLUID WALL ABOVE SUCH BAFFLE PLATES. 